Finally got around to installing the SRT wheels....

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:51 pm

After toiling with the duplicolor bronze, I tried the black wheel coating. It came out just as grainy! Grrr... so I tried some 1200-degree ceramic paint, and it came out nice, in a semi-gloss. So for now, until I can either powdercoat them bronze or buy other wheels, I have 17's in semi-gloss black.

jphillips · Post by **jphillips** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 3:56 pm

**WAY** better than chrome! all ya need is a nice, clean AVS Downdraft on the trunk....

J-Villa · Post by **J-Villa** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:02 pm

looking better.....put the grill back in....i hate those hood pins...other than that it looks good

MyNeonSaysHi · Post by **MyNeonSaysHi** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:07 pm

I likem alot. Wonder why.

Car needs some sort of exhaust.....

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 4:40 pm

Exhaust is next. Grille stays out (I like it that way), and I'm debating on the AVS

Nutmeg · Post by **Nutmeg** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 6:10 pm

Yeah, definitely go with the AVS.

biggrobb1995 · Post by **biggrobb1995** » Sun Sep 16, 2007 7:15 pm

Rims look good. Good job

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:57 am

Thanks for the compliments on the wheels, guys

The hoodpins I agree, but they are necessary. Not so much on '03+, but the airdam on mine... I've seen a CF hood come off before on the road, not a pretty site. Safety first.

I'm gonna have to post a picture request for AVS spoilers in another thread.

Izero · Post by **Izero** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:03 pm

have u tried a clear coat?

gabrielriley · Post by **gabrielriley** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:37 pm

looks nice! What size are your tires?

orangeblast05 · Post by **orangeblast05** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:09 pm

i think they are 215/45/17 or 215/50/17

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:16 pm

215/45 -17. A 45 series on a 215 is taller than a 45 series on a 205. For those who don't know, the second number is a percentage of the first. Anyways, it turns out that a 45 series on a 215 is a liiiittle taller than a 50 series on a 205.

So I get a wider footprint

And I don't have ricey lowprofile sidewalls (no offense to those who have 205/40 and 45, I think it makes the combo look too small in the Neon wheel well, and I like a little more rubber for safety nyuk nyuk nyuk). The 215 width doesn't look too wide on these wheels, either.

I'm keeping them semi-gloss black. I don't want shiny, but I didn't want flat black either. So these are perfect as is. I'll probably throw another couple solid coats on them for durabilty but otherwise they're gonna stay the way you see them until I get a chance to powdercoat them bronze.

03blackrt · Post by **03blackrt** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:44 pm

Looks good bud!

Good choice going with the 215-45's

Maybe paint the hood pins satin black too?

orangeblast05 · Post by **orangeblast05** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:46 pm

r u running stock struts on those wheels?

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:08 pm

No, I switched to SRT-4 struts and SRT aftermarket lowering springs about a week ago. Stock SRT tire size (and definitely the size I went with) will not fit with non-SRT struts, because the spring perch is too low.

I paid $80 for the set of four SRT-4 struts in good condition. I paid $110 shipped for the springs (230 front springrate, 200 rear), so that's $190 total. Not too shabby, eh? And after that I could run the wheels as planned with something wider and taller than 205/40. Fills up the wheel well nicer IMO.

I can't paint the hood latches, they get scratched up alot and will look better in bare aluminum than scratched black.

orangeblast05 · Post by **orangeblast05** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:33 pm

Well i'm running 215/45/17 on stock sxt struts, NO problems here. But in a couple of weeks will change to srt struts with goldline springs.

Adionik · Post by **Adionik** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:14 pm

have you thought about maybe some side skirts...or a rear bumper conversion

kevo · Post by **kevo** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:45 pm

orangeblast05 wrote:Well i'm running 215/45/17 on stock sxt struts, NO problems here. But in a couple of weeks will change to srt struts with goldline springs.

FYI lots of guys that use that setup on their SRT usually end up with blown struts.

orangeblast05 · Post by **orangeblast05** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:59 am

Wel that i don't know but as you said, usually, because a friend of mine has that setup for like 4 years now and no problems. Maybe it's luck..lol

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:34 am

No, it's spring rates. Some of these springs are god awful stiff, and are murder on stock SRT struts. Mine are milder and so will probably last a lot longer in that config.

orangeblast05, from the look of your wheels, yor offset is WAY more outward, and that is why you can run 215/45-17. Remember that the spring perch is at an angle, so the farther out the wheel is from the hub, the more clearance you have.

At stock offset (such as SRT wheels, for instance), you're in closer at te lowest point on the spring perch and 215/45-17 will not fit. Trust me, I tried

The Goldline springs only have a 1" drop in the front and a 1.75" drop in the rear. Mine are about 1.75" drop int he front, and around 2.25" in the rear. Quite a difference. Look at my pictures. Do you want to be taller than my setup? I'm running SRT struts and 215/45-17.

I suggest against goldline unless you still want to look raised. Mine are Megan Racing.

Adionik wrote:have you thought about maybe some side skirts...or a rear bumper conversion

Why yes, I have thought about it

kevo · Post by **kevo** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:13 pm

orangeblast05 wrote:Wel that i don't know but as you said, usually, because a friend of mine has that setup for like 4 years now and no problems. Maybe it's luck..lol

don't take my word for it, check out srtforums
http://www.srtforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=163

There are alot of people that are indeed happy with their goldline springs. On the other hand, the goldlines have more complaints than any other line of springs for srt struts.

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:28 am

...which is why I didn't go with Goldlines

Megan Racing FTW.

dblsg · Post by **dblsg** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:32 pm

me no likey black wheels.... i think you should give bronze another try

Arro · Post by **Arro** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:17 pm

I think the bronze paint looks like shit, and you couldn't pay me to try again. When I go bronze, it will be powdercoating. For now it's quick and easy black.

Although apparently not so easy... the black paint is rubbing off of the three silver wheels. The one I tried to bronze had primer underneath, so it's holding. I have to sand the other three down again, primer, and repaint, but I'm sure it will be fine after that.